HOTAS vs. TrackIR

[Booger]

Grats on the new X52 Pro.

 

If you don't have a lot of room under the desk, get the CH Pro Pedals. They're not as wide as Saitek and they take quite a beating. I plan on switching over to Saitek at some point, but I can't complain about these.

 

As far as non-pedal use in a helicopter sim..lol. To each their own.

[topdog]

I agree with this, but the HOTAS should be a cheap one (X-52 or X-52 Pro).

 

I believe it's not worth buying an expensive HOTAS which is dedicated to one A/C (like Cougar, Warthog) and when a new sim arrives you feel old-fashioned :megalol: Except If the HOTAS is this from the aircraft you love.

 

But If you have a general use HOTAS you can assign every sim's and A/C's buttons on it.

 

So it's better to keep money to spend on TIR, pedals, headphones etc... :thumbup:

 

Warthog HOTAS looks capable enough to use elsewhere; some of the system lights won't work or seem right, but that's no different to the X52 Pro's MFD/LED setups (generally) not working out of the box either.

 

However.. it's not here yet, and you could probably get all those other things you mentioned and have cash to spare for replacements for the next few years, for the same cost, so I agree with your sentiments/direction.

 

I just wouldn't write it off as a one-trick pony :) They say the stick and throttle are basically borrowed from other craft anyway, so they can't be too A10 specific.

[TKMR]

What are you keeping under your desk that you dont have room? Hmmmmmmmmm?

 

You know... stuff. ;)

 

Haha. I'll take a picture when I get up in the morning..

 

So, one of my major concerns at the moment, is the Split Throttle. So I understand the real Hog has detens that indicate neutral, etc etc. And the X52 is supposed to sort of have that from what I read, but on the startup, how am I going to just throttle up one engine, and not the other? Just use a key binding?

Edited August 2, 2010 by TKMR

[Mimes]

If you are looking at getting a second had unit of TrackIR, TrackIR 3 Pro does not seem to work in Flaming Cliffs 2.

 

Regards, Mimes

[shu77]

You know... stuff. ;)

 

Haha. I'll take a picture when I get up in the morning..

 

So, one of my major concerns at the moment, is the Split Throttle. So I understand the real Hog has detens that indicate neutral, etc etc. And the X52 is supposed to sort of have that from what I read, but on the startup, how am I going to just throttle up one engine, and not the other? Just use a key binding?

 

I tested this with FC2 the other day, ALT Axis for Right CTRL Axis for LEft, and if you like SHIFT Axis for both.

[Squid_DK]

TKMR, there will in all propability be keyboard strokes for the idle and cutoff positions, if you won't be able to just click them with your mouse...

Regarding pedals it is a lot easier to use those for rudder than the twist grip on the X52 (I have a CH setop and my wife has the X52) and I have difficulties with it compared to the pedals.

I also preordered the TM Warthog so I'm going to mix 'n' match with the CH pedals.

 

Staffan

[TKMR]

I've been using the twist grip on my Logitech Wingman3DPro for awhile, so I should be used to it. I see the pedals as a luxury item. The TIR, I really really want/need. The pedals, are just a nice ammenity.

 

Oh! And I owe you guys pictures of my ew desk. I'll try to remember tomorrow. =)

 

I was thinking about this. Since the X52pro has two HAT switches, are they placed in such a position that I can use one HAT switch for my Shkval, and one for my view, without touching modifier keys? That would make life so much better!

[Sarge55]

Yes, that's how I had it set up until I got the TIR.

 

Oh and I agree, pedals after TIR, althought the pedals really help when landing the Shark.

Edited August 3, 2010 by Sarge55
add to comment.

[shu77]

I've been wondering about buying these $50 pedals off Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350373896077&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2615wt_1137

Dont know if anyones had any experience with them?

[Eddie]

I've been wondering about buying these $50 pedals off Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350373896077&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2615wt_1137

Dont know if anyones had any experience with them?

 

I'd advise you save your money and put it towards buying some pedals from a known brand that will actually work. Look at buying second hand if you can't afford/justify the cost of a new set of pedals.

[shu77]

Yeah I Have a set of DXF's from Frugals for a nice set of pedals I was thinking about having cut, but these looked like a cheap option. I mean Saiteks would be awesome, but its a big spend when youre not flying a chopper regularly

[Eddie]

I mean Saiteks would be awesome, but its a big spend when youre not flying a chopper regularly

 

Pedals are just as important in jets, something that may not be evident with the simple flight models of lock-on. I bought my Saitek pedals around 3 years ago for ~£100 and they are still going strong, yeah it's not cheap but they will last a long time. I couldn't even guess how many hundreds of hours I've flown with them.

 

I've always been a strong believer in spending a little more now to save in the future. I mean, you could buy a set of cheap pedals now and then have to replace them almost every year which over the length of time a set of mid range pedals would last, would end up costing you more than just buying the mid range pedals to start with.

[TKMR]

Got my X52 yesterday, been screwing around with Profiles, trying to find a good button setup for my style of blackshark play.

 

I do have a question about it. Is there anyway to set it so when I switch to Mode 1 it automatically turns the Master arm On, and then when I switch away it turns Master Arm off? I'm using Mode 1 as my 'combat mode' since it's color is red, and Mode 3 is my 'safe/travel mode' since it's blue. (Red = Danger, blue = safe).

[topdog]

I created a Master Arm macro in SST (which is just the alt+w keypress) and if you look where I assigned it in this image, the behaviour is that when I go into Mode1 it will press it, and when I leave it, it will press it. Be sure that Mode2 and Mode3 are set to Unprogrammed in the same slot, you don't want it set to Fallback.

 

 

That works OK as a toggle but it means you should always go to Mode2 or Mode3 before you start a mission or fly a craft in multiplayer. Though if you do, it's no big deal, just toggle master arm manually once, and then the mode wheel will take care of it again from there.

 

It's a little more awkward if you use more than 3 modes (with the extra shift-states, like pinky trigger), but if you just use and define only the 3 and get rid of the rest, it works a treat.

 

I had the same philosophy in naming and using my modes based on the hostility of their LED colours too :)

Edited August 6, 2010 by topdog

[TKMR]

I created a Master Arm macro in SST (which is just the alt+w keypress) and if you look where I assigned it in this image, the behaviour is that when I go into Mode1 it will press it, and when I leave it, it will press it. Be sure that Mode2 and Mode3 are set to Unprogrammed in the same slot, you don't want it set to Fallback.

 

[ATTACH]41468[/ATTACH]

 

That works OK as a toggle but it means you should always go to Mode2 or Mode3 before you start a mission or fly a craft in multiplayer. Though if you do, it's no big deal, just toggle master arm manually once, and then the mode wheel will take care of it again from there.

 

It's a little more awkward if you use more than 3 modes (with the extra shift-states, like pinky trigger), but if you just use and define only the 3 and get rid of the rest, it works a treat.

 

I had the same philosophy in naming and using my modes based on the hostility of their LED colours too :)

 

Glad I'm not crazy. :joystick: Thank you!

Edited August 9, 2010 by TKMR